Losing Armies

May 1945, the occupying forces in Norway surrenders, a flag is lowered another one hoisted. The occupiers’ commandant hand his revolver to the man from the home front, there is dignity. The enemy now prisoners, go back to their barracks and wait to be skipped home to their country. Another war, in the Middle East 70 years later, the occupiers leave in the night unseen by the masses, they too have lost but pretend they are victors. No dignity, only an unspoken sense of dishonor. And the soldiers, of the vanquished army, will be demobbed, given medals and sacrifices are forgotten.